Bling it On with Bracelets (Shaan Berg)

These days, there isn't a woman (or man) you won't find sporting these decidedly delectable arm accessories. From being something worn to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck, the bracelet has become a fashion must-have that completes any look and any outfit admirably.

Bracelets are very versatile accessories, which makes them perfect for those with an adventurous sense of fashion. With so many styles available in the market these days, you need to at least know the types of bracelets so you can perfectly mix and match it with your wardrobe. If you must look for bracelets, then you must find ones that fit your personality and lifestyle to be able to pull off the perfect look.

Charm bracelets were the first indications that this accessory was going to go places. In the old days, they were status symbols, worn only by the rich. In India, instead of the wedding ring, women wore bangles to symbolize their marital status. Over the centuries, the bracelet has evolved from merely symbolizing to actually expressing a statement - a fashion statement that is.

The first styles of charm bracelets were those that had playful charms that had a sentimental value to the wearer. Then it evolved into the more sophisticated tennis bracelets, named as such after the 1987 incident where tennis great Chris Evert stopped in the middle of an important match to collect the diamonds that fell from her bracelet. These are usually set with precious stones and in most cases, diamonds, making it a great investment as well as a great accessory for formal wear.

And then of course, there are the wildly popular and stylish bangles and cuff bracelets you see on many Hollywood A-listers these days. These are solid bracelets you simply slip over your wrist and are mostly made of brass, copper, silver or gold with and without embellishments but mostly done in intricate designs that makes it pop.

Beaded bracelets on the other hand, are commonly worn either in multi-colored layers or as a single strand. They can run the gamut between casual and very formal depending on the materials they are made of, which are usually plastic, glass or wood. They can also come in a variety of colors and designs although the trend these days seems to be mixing and matching beads of different sizes and shapes. You can view more bracelet types online see just how much it has evolved from the simple gold or silver chains of yore.

To choose the best bracelets is by no means an easy task, not when you have a multitude of options available. There are also several things you need to consider when shopping for the best bracelets whether you will be giving them as a gift or buying them for yourself such as the fact that a bracelet's standard length is 7 inches, particularly if you are buying chain bracelets and that you have the option to resize by adding or taking out several links. When you check out ozbling.com.au, an online store that sells fashion jewelry, you'll find that today's bracelets are normally just slipped over the wrist, with no need to fiddle with clasps and latches. Everything is just ready to go!

If you work with your hands or have small kids and are always running around on some errand, then a chunky bracelet may not be a good idea nor would a fine chain, both of which can get easily lost or broken. If you're the type who is used to wearing bracelets all the time, then you should choose one made of sturdy materials with equally sturdy settings. Metal bands or chains are a more practical choice for everyday wear than jeweled charm bracelets.

Accessorizing with bracelets is also something that doesn't follow any set rules but only requires that the wearer be bold and fashionably adventurous enough to experiment with different looks, but one that will make their outfits and personalities pop. When you check out the Oz Bling website, you will see a multitude of beaded bracelets, bangles, cuffs, crystal, mesh ball and even vintage pearl bracelets that can perfectly set off any style you want to pull off. Whether you wear them stacked or as single strands, your bracelet should be able to express who you are.

And finally a few tips to highlight your bracelets. Never wear them with long sleeves, for obvious reasons. Remember that with bracelets, opposites attract - if you have long and slender arms, chunky bracelets are best otherwise, it may be best to stick to wearing small and delicate chains around the smallest part of your arm, which is the wrist. It is also helpful to note that nail colors and bracelets can play off one another - metallic nail polish goes best with gold and silver bracelets while pastels go best with crystals and rhinestones.

The most important thing to remember, however, when you check out Oz Bling cuff bracelets is that you choose bracelets you are most comfortable wearing because in the end, when you feel good you'll look good and that's all that matters, no matter what you wear.

Shaan Berg is into fashion and jewelry, a savvy shopper and blogger. If you want to look for bracelets that scream trendy style and personality, look no further than http://www.ozbling.com.au. Check out stylish and fashion-forward bracelets designed to make you stand out in a crowd anytime, every time.

Finding the Perfect Necklace for your Neckline (Shaan Berg)

Fashion dictates that everything must look and feel perfect. As the late Coco Chanel said, a girl has to be two things: classy and fabulous and what else personifies classy and fabulous than great jewelry? Whether you go for classic, fine jewelry or trendy and stylish fashion jewelry, one thing is for certain: diamonds may be a girl's best friend but Swarovski crystals are her family.

One of the major pieces of jewelry that complete any fashion statement is the necklace. Necklaces have been worn since ancient civilization even pre-dating the invention of writing. The wearing of necklaces is believed to have started during the Stone Age, wherein necklaces were not strung with strings, twines or chains but strong vines and remnants of animal sinews left over from hunts that were tied together and adorned with shells, bones or teeth, as well as bird feathers, corals, carved pieces of wood and basically anything cave men could scrounge for.

From these primeval beginnings, the necklace slowly evolved into prettier, more solid pieces particularly during the Bronze Age, where humans learned how to melt and manipulate metal and cast it into shapes. Bronze, copper, silver, gold, electrum and platinum were only some of the popular metals used to create eye-catching designs, enhanced further by the addition of beautifully-cut gemstones and art glass.

The invention of crucibles and blowtorches took the creation of necklaces to a new level with the advent of stainless steel and titanium, as well as the birth of miniaturization and laser etching to enable intricate designs and finely detailed artwork. You can view more examples of perfect evolutions of the necklace online and understand why they have become the centerpiece of fashion trends everywhere.

The advent of what is known as statement necklaces has paved the way for a timeless fashion trend that has become more than just a passing fancy. Chunky necklaces used to be viewed as making you look gauche and not at all fashion-forward but ever since Hollywood A-listers and even the First Lady Michelle Obama began wearing them to important state and red carpet events, chunky became in. These days, you'll be hard-pressed not to see any fashionable woman within 20 feet not wearing a statement necklace or at least artfully-layered pendants and chains either to work or for a girl's night out.

The popularity of statement necklaces has risen to meteoric heights, so much so that it has been conveniently forgotten that statement necklaces are not for everybody, or at least not for anybody who doesn't know how to wear them. Even as you check out necklaces from sites like Oz Bling for example and get dizzy just trying to browse through the wide selection of statement necklaces that range from the beads to the collar necklaces, to the pearls to the y-chains, wearing statement necklaces like floral leggings, have to fit your personal style in order to look good.

To be able to wear a statement necklace, you have to realize first that it is called as such for a reason. Fashion is always about making a statement and if your necklace doesn't even merit a single glance, then that's not really getting the point, right? Your aim is to look chic and polished while at the same time fashion-savvy enough to be noticed and followed by fashionistas everywhere so here are some tips to remember when wearing statement necklaces:

1. Wear your hair up
Of course, there's nothing with letting your hair down but since you don't want anything to visually compete with your necklace, wearing your hair up will allow your gorgeous bauble to be front and center.

2. Don't wear two over-the-top pieces at the same time
If too many cooks spoil the broth, wearing two attention-grabbing pieces can spoil the look. A dress by itself is fine, a statement piece by itself is fine but wearing them together, can hurt just by looking. Stick to one over-the-top piece and you'll definitely speak volumes.

3. Play matchy-matchy
Wearing statement necklaces doesn't mean wearing bright colors with your simple dress. Matching your necklace with your dress in fact gives your body length and creates some depth to your outfit. So when you find necklaces online make sure you don't get one that's too oversized or one that's too small it could get lost in the folds of your dress.

4. Don't wear too bright tops
Another play on wearing statement necklaces is wearing tops in colors that are not too bright and will complement the colors of your necklaces like purple and blue for example. Don't be afraid to mix and match to make your outfits pop.

Also, wearing statement necklaces also depends on the kind of neckline you have. Statement necklaces are also known for their big and bold designs that can compete visually with necklines so you'll need to know how to create a harmonious and fluid look. For crewnecks for example, select a large, bib-style necklace from the Oz Bling website that hits below the collarbone but ends above the bust line.

For scoop neck lines that always make for sophisticated and graceful looks, opting for pendant or V-shaped necklaces will fail to fill the available space. Multi-strand necklaces do a great job of following the curve of the neckline and filling in the visible collarbone area. You can also opt for a chunky single strand that will as well create harmony and fill the space of the scoop.

And lastly, don't worry about the old rule of wearing all gold or all silver together. These days, you can mix and match your metals to come up with a signature look that you can be happy with. These days, fashion is all about what you want to express and not mimicking other people's visions. Wear what makes you feel and look good but don't forget to adhere to tried and tested fashion rules. Find necklaces at ozbling.com.au that will suit your preferred looks and at the same time perfectly express any statements you care to make.

Shaan Berg is into fashion and jewelry, a savvy shopper and blogger. Finding necklaces for yourself or to give as gifts is not a problem when you check out the fine selection of necklace sets at www.ozbling.com.au. Find necklaces online that are trendy, stylish and perfectly express any fashion statement you care to make.